Method for battery charging and discharging for a plurality of individual batteries

ABSTRACT

A method of charging and distributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteries includes providing a battery charging circuit configured to supply a charging current to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and to provide the charging current to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, supplying the charging current to the first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and switching the battery charging circuit to supply the charging current to the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries.

This disclosure is directed toward an apparatus for charging anddischarging at least one of a plurality of individual rechargeablebatteries, and a method for charging and discharging at least one of aplurality of individual rechargeable batteries.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Military communities are currently in the process of developingConformal Wearable Batteries (CWB) designed as a safe, flexible andwearable power source to meet current and future needs of armed servicemembers carrying portable/wearable systems, e.g., communication systemsand weapons systems, into training and combat theatres. Additionally,not only warfighter-worn CWBs exist in ever increasing number in thefield, but also other non-wearable device-specific rechargeablebatteries associated with portable and field-operable electronicsystems.

There exists a need for a portable rechargeable and dischargeablebattery device capable of recharging CWB and non-CWB rechargeablebatteries in the field using a common power supply and a dense, or highbattery count per charging device, charging structure.

Additionally, there exists a need for portable in-the-field power thatmay be supplied by the portable rechargeable and dischargeable batterydevice when one or more batteries retained in the device are switched todeliver their corresponding battery power, (and may in consonant withbattery power from other retained batteries), configured to deliver theconsolidated battery power to an internal or an external electricalload.

In addition, there exists a need to configure the rechargeable batterycharging device to have modular battery storage compartments or bayspre-configured to receive, retain and release any number of rechargeablebatteries in any number of predetermined form factors or sizes.

BRIEF SUMMARY

It should be appreciated that this Summary is provided to introduce aselection of concepts in a simplified form that are further describedbelow in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to beused to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one embodiment disclosed herein a battery charging and dischargingdevice includes an enclosure defining an interior compartment, where theenclosure further includes an access opening configured to allow accessto the interior compartment, a moveable cover configured to move betweena closed position covering the access opening and to prevent access tothe interior compartment, and an open position enabling access to theinterior compartment, a battery storage compartment disposed within theinterior compartment and configured to receive, retain and release aplurality of rechargeable batteries, and a releasable attachment deviceconfigured to releasably attach the enclosure to one of a movable objector a stationary fixture.

The above embodiment further includes a power management system disposedwithin the interior compartment further including a plurality of batterycharge and distribution circuits each configured to switch between abattery charging mode configured to supply a charging current at a firsttime to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and to providethe charging current at a second time to a second rechargeable batteryof the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the batterystorage compartment, and a battery power supplying mode configured toreceive a stored battery power from at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment andconfigured to deliver the stored battery power to an external electricalload, and a battery charging monitoring circuit configured to monitor atleast one battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries under thebattery charging mode and provide a charging state visual indicator ofthe monitored battery charging mode associated with the at least onemonitored battery, and to switch at least one of the plurality ofbattery charge and distribution circuits supplying the charging currentbetween one of the first and the second rechargeable batteries.

In another embodiment disclosed herein a battery charging anddischarging device includes an enclosure defining an interiorcompartment, the enclosure further including an access openingconfigured to allow access to the interior compartment, a moveable coverconfigured to move between a closed position covering the access openingand to prevent access to the interior compartment, and an open positionenabling access to the interior compartment, a battery storagecompartment disposed within the interior compartment and configured toreceive a first battery storage bay module configured to receive, retainand release a first type of a plurality of rechargeable batteries and toreceive a second rechargeable battery storage bay module configured toreceive, retain and release a second type of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries different from the first type of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries, and a releasable attachment device configured toreleasably attach the enclosure to one of a movable object or astationary fixture.

The above embodiment further includes a power management system disposedwithin the interior compartment further including a plurality of batterycharge and distribution circuits each configured to switch between abattery charging mode configured to supply a charging current at a firsttime to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and to providethe charging current at a second time to a second rechargeable batteryof the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the batterystorage compartment, and a battery power supplying mode configured toreceive a stored rechargeable battery power from at least one of theplurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storagecompartment and configured to deliver the stored rechargeable batterypower to an external electrical load, and a battery charging monitoringcircuit configured to monitor at least one battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries under the battery charging mode and provide avisual indicator of the monitored battery charging mode associated withthe at least one battery, and to switch at least one of the plurality ofbattery charge and distribution circuits supplying the charging currentbetween one of the first and the second rechargeable batteries.

In another embodiment disclosed herein a battery charging anddischarging device includes a battery storage compartment configured toreceive, retain and release a plurality of rechargeable batteries, and apower management system including a plurality of battery charge anddistribution circuits each configured to switch between a batterycharging mode configured to supply a charging current at a first time toa first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteriesretained in the battery storage compartment, and to provide the chargingcurrent at a second time to a second rechargeable battery of theplurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storagecompartment, and a battery power supplying mode configured to receive astored rechargeable battery power from at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment andconfigured to deliver the stored rechargeable battery power to anexternal electrical load, and a battery charging monitoring circuitconfigured to monitor at least one battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries under the battery charging mode and provide avisual indicator of the monitored battery charging mode associated withthe at least one battery, and to switch at least one of the plurality ofbattery charge and distribution circuits supplying the charging currentbetween one of the first and the second rechargeable batteries.

In another embodiment disclosed herein a method of charging anddistributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteriesincludes providing a battery charging circuit configured to supply acharging current at a first time to a first rechargeable battery of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, and to provide the charging currentat a second time to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries, supplying the charging current at the first timeto the first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries, switching, at the second time, the battery charging circuitto supply the charging current to the second rechargeable battery of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, providing a battery power supplyingcircuit configured to receive a stored rechargeable battery power fromat least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and to deliverthe stored rechargeable battery power to an electrical load, andswitching between one of supplying the charging current to one of thefirst rechargeable battery or the second rechargeable battery of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, and receiving the stored batterypower from the one of the first rechargeable battery or the secondrechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries toenable delivery of the received stored battery power to the electricalload.

In another embodiment disclosed herein a method of charging anddistributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteriesconnected to a power management circuit includes providing a batterycharging circuit configured to be connected to at least two of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, supplying, via the battery chargingcircuit, a charging current to a first rechargeable battery of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, monitoring the first rechargeablebattery while receiving the supplied charging current, detecting acharging fault in response to monitoring the first rechargeable batteryreceiving the supplied charging current, switching, in response to thedetected charging fault of the first battery, the battery chargingcircuit to supply the charging current via to the second rechargeablebattery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, providing a batterydischarge circuit configured to receive a stored rechargeable batterypower from at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries,detecting a first user input to cause the at least one of the pluralityof rechargeable batteries to discharge stored rechargeable battery powerto an electrical load, and receiving a second input to cause the atleast one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to receive, via thebattery charging circuit, the charging current.

In another embodiment disclosed herein a method of charging anddistributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteriesconnected to a power management circuit includes supplying, via abattery charge and distribution circuit, a charging current to at leastone of a plurality of rechargeable batteries, monitoring, via amonitoring circuit, the at least one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries and the battery charge and distribution circuit concurrentlywith supplying the charging current, and at least one of 1) determining,by the monitoring circuit, a charging fault in the at least one of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, and based on determining thecharging fault in the at least one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries, switching the battery charge and distribution circuit tosupply the charging current to another one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries, and 2) determining, by the monitoring circuit, acharging fault in the battery charge and distribution circuit, and basedon determining the charging fault in the battery charge and distributioncircuit, switching to another battery charge and distribution circuit tosupply the charging current to the at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries.

In another embodiment disclosed herein a method of charging anddistributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteriesconnected to a power management circuit including receiving, via abattery charge and distribution circuit, a discharge current from atleast one of a plurality of rechargeable batteries, monitoring, via amonitoring circuit, the at least one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries and the battery charge and distribution circuit concurrentlyreceiving the discharge current, and at least one of 1) determining, bythe monitoring circuit, a discharge fault in the at least one of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, and based on determining thedischarge fault in the at least one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries, switching the battery charge and distribution circuit toreceive another discharge current from another of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries, and 2) determining, by the monitoring circuit, adischarge fault in the battery charge and distribution circuit, andbased on determining the discharge fault in the battery charge anddistribution circuit, switching to another battery charge anddistribution circuit to receive the discharge current from the at leastone of the plurality of rechargeable batteries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be better understood from the following detaileddescription with reference to the drawings, which are not necessarilydrawing to scale and in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of abattery charging and discharging device;

FIG. 1B illustrates a front view of the first embodiment of a batterycharging and discharging device of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of the first embodiment of abattery charging and discharging device of FIGS. 1A-1B containing aplurality of batteries loaded within an internal compartment of anenclosure of the battery charging and discharging device;

FIG. 2B illustrates a front view of the first embodiment of a batterycharging and discharging device of FIGS. 1A-2A containing the pluralityof batteries loaded within the internal compartment of the enclosure ofthe battery charging and discharging device;

FIG. 3 illustrates an environmental illustration of the battery chargingand discharging device of FIGS. 1A-2B containing the plurality ofbatteries loaded within the internal compartment of the enclosure of thebattery charging and discharging device as affixed to an externalsurface of a moveable vehicle;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofFIGS. 1A-2B containing a plurality of battery charging bays configuredto store at least two different types of rechargeable batteries withinthe internal compartment of the enclosure of the battery charging anddischarging device;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the alternative embodiment ofFIG. 4 containing the plurality of battery charging bays configured tostore at least two different types of rechargeable batteries within theinternal compartment of the enclosure of the battery charging anddischarging device;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective assembly view of the alternativeembodiment of FIGS. 4-5 containing the plurality of battery chargingbays configured to store at least two different types of rechargeablebatteries within the internal compartment of the enclosure of thebattery charging and discharging device;

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of the first and secondembodiments of the charging and discharging device of FIGS. 1-6 includedan enclosure and at least one battery storage bay module;

FIG. 8A illustrates a front perspective view of a third embodiment ofthe charging and discharging device structure including a plurality ofbatteries stored therein similar to the second embodiment as illustratedin FIGS. 4-6 ;

FIG. 8B illustrates a rear perspective view of the third embodiment ofthe charging and discharging device structure of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 illustrates an environmental illustration of the battery chargingand discharging structure of FIGS. 8A-8B containing the plurality ofbatteries as affixed to an interior surface a moveable vehicle where themoveable vehicle similar to the moveable vehicle of FIG. 3 andillustrating a partial interior view thereof;

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of thecharging and discharging device of FIGS. 8A-9 included an enclosure andat least one battery storage bay module;

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic diagram of the power management systemof the charging and discharging devices of FIGS. 1-10 ;

FIG. 12 illustrates a logic flowchart diagram of a method of supplying acharging current to a plurality of batteries by either switching abattery charge/distribution circuit to supply the charging to anotherrechargeable battery of the plurality of batteries, or switching toanother battery charge/distribution circuit to supply the chargingcurrent to a rechargeable battery; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a logic flowchart diagram of a method of supplyingstored battery energy current from at least one battery of a pluralityof batteries to an electrical load by either switching from a firstbattery charge/distribution circuit to another batterycharge/distribution circuit, or switching from a first dischargingrechargeable battery to another discharging rechargeable battery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments describe herein are directed toward a device and methodsfor charging and discharging a plurality of rechargeable batteries in adense form factor. The charging and discharging device may be configuredto enable bi-directional AC-DC and DC-DC charging and dischargingbetween an electrical source and a plurality of batteries that mayinclude batteries conforming to the standard for Conformable WearableBatteries (CWB) (MIL-PRF-32383/4A). The bi-directional nature of thepower flow may be configured to both charge rechargeable batteriesretained in the device or to act as a battery bank and provide storedpower from the rechargeable battery array when connected to internal orexternal electrical loads relative to the charging and dischargingdevice.

The charging and discharging device may be generally configured toinclude a plurality of slots/receptacles to hold rechargeable batteriesand provide electrical contacts to interface with the externalrechargeable battery contacts configured to both charge and dischargethe batteries.

The charging and discharging device may be further configured to providea power management system to support the charging and discharging of anybatteries within the enclosure using a charging current type of, e.g.,110 VAC, 220 VAC, 480 VAC, 12 VDC, 24 VDC, 350 VDC nominal, 650 VDCnominal and 800 VDC nominal, wherein the power management systemprovides universal translation of both input and output powerstandards/protocols within current armed forces vehicle and powerinfrastructure fleets.

The power management system of the charging and discharging devicefurther includes a cooling system configured to as at least one of anair-to-air heat exchanger, an air-to-liquid heat exchanger, and a heatpump-type refrigerant cooling system.

The charging and discharging device may be configured either as aweather-proof enclosure or a structure configured to be mounted withinan existing weather-proof enclosure, either mobile or stationary, andmay be configured in a size-based modular manner to charge or dischargebatteries in a quantity of, e.g., 40-200 rechargeable batteries at atime, whether CWB or non-CWB batteries.

The charging and discharging device may be configured to be supported ona locking slide-out rack to maximize a quantity of batteries to becharged when attached, either externally to or internally within amoveable vehicle. The corresponding enclosure and power electronics ofthe charging and discharging device may also be qualified under MIL-STD810G, ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM GUIDELINES.

The following disclosure regarding the charging and discharging deviceand associated methods of operation generally describes the followingthree State Modes that may be used in combination or in the alternativeto the embodiments described herein: a (1) Battery Charge Mode; a (2)Battery Hold or Standby Mode; and a (3) Offboard Power Mode.

(1) Battery Charge Mode

A Battery Charge Mode, as applied to any of the embodiment describedherein, enables electrical power to flow from an external power sourceto a charging device, e.g., at least one rechargeable battery. Theelectrical power source may include AC or DC power formats, which withinthe charging device, may be identified, transformed, rectified andregulated into a predetermined format optimal to provide a chargingcurrent to each of the discrete battery charging circuits electricallyconnected to respective rechargeable batteries. Electrical power, as thecharge current, may be supplied from an external power input sourceafter being verified that a completed and safe connection has been madebefore closing contacts to allow the externally provided power to flowinto any of the embodiments of charging device disclosed herein. Oncethe power management system of the disclosed device determines theincoming power and current type, and that a proper and safe connectionhas been made, the electrical contacts close and electrical power flowsinto the device to connected rechargeable batteries. After the powertype has been identified, further intelligent circuits may boost, buck,rectify, regulate or otherwise modify the charging current to apredetermined input voltage and current type corresponding to therechargeable batteries. This intelligent infrastructure selects the mostefficient transformation to modify the input power to the desired chargecurrent.

The power management system may be comprised of sister nodes operatingin parallel under a master-less control algorithm. Each sister node isdedicated to charging either one battery or one array of batteries.Nodes are also capable of charging at least a second battery or at leasta second array of batteries. These sister nodes operate in conjunctionwith each other to both switch between batteries receiving chargingcurrent and supplying stored energy and switch between charge anddistribution circuits supplying charging current and receiving storedenergy.

The power management system further determines and regulates a chargerate for each of the plurality of batteries inserted into the chargingdevice under a charging state, (based on an overall level of energyavailable to the charge device), the quantity of batteries inserted intothe charge device, the state of charge of each battery, (i.e., ifcharged with a low power demand, or uncharged with a high power demand),and the health status of each sister node.

The ability for sister nodes to be able to charge more than one batteryor more than one array of batteries may be based on monitoring anddetecting a failed or compromised performing node and notifying thepower management system of the node's state such that the failed orcompromised node may be temporarily or permanently electronicallydisconnected from the charging and discharging device or from the alocal array of batteries with which it may be associated, while aneighboring or associated sister node takes over the charging operationfor the failed/compromised battery or node that the initial battery orinitial array was associated with.

The nodal redundancy prevents aging sister nodes that are workingintermittently, inefficiently or not at all from receiving a partialcharge from the charge device while the device may be remote fromreplacement parts and service operations.

In such a failed/compromised state, where a sister node has indicated anerror in operation, a visual error indication is triggered reflectingthe status of the charge device/or the particular node having thefailed/compromised state. For example, a visual indication status maydepict “still operational, but service soon” level of urgency, or depicta complete failure state. However, the overall capability andperformance of the entire charging and discharging device would not bejeopardized in given the failure of a single, or even multiple nodesgiven the redundant nodal arrangement described above.

The relationship of a sister node to a battery within a charge array maybe to monitor voltage, current, and power direction. This monitoring maydetect spikes in current or voltage, detect under or overvoltage/current conditions, and perform a rudimental battery healthcheck, (e.g., in a pre-charging state), on a battery when it is insertedbefore charging may begin. The monitoring may be used to prevent afailed battery charge event, indicate that a battery cannot be chargeddue to an internal failure issue, halt charging of a damaged batterybased on charging symptoms during a charging process that may notdemonstrate any symptoms until the charging process is underway, andother battery charging safety metrics and measures. These results arecommunicated to an end user of the charge device via a visualindicator/indication that corresponds to each battery in the chargearray.

(2) Battery Hold/Standby Mode

In the Battery Hold/Standby Mode, the charging and discharge device isneither providing nor accepting power where electrical contacts may bein an open state and charge monitoring circuitry may remain in anunpowered state. The Standby Mode may be configured to safely storebatteries retained in the charging and discharging device by usingenergy to monitor them resulting in no reduction of a battery charge. Anexample of use in the Standby Mode may be where a charging anddischarging device having plurality of completely charged rechargeablebatteries that may be transported at a supply release point forsubsequent retrieval. Continuing this example, the retrieval processmight exchange one or more charging and discharging devices of fullycharged batteries for a corresponding set of charging and dischargingdevices containing charge-depleted batteries.

(3) Offboard Power Mode

In the Offboard Power Mode, the charge device functions very similarlyto the reverse of Charging Mode. For example, 1) the desired outputpower format may be configured/determined, 2) a safe and robustelectrical connection has been made and confirmed, 3) the charge deviceverifies it has enough stored electrical energy to produce the desiredoutput, and 4) contacts to the batteries close, and the charge devicefunctions as a standalone power source. Error detection and safetyverification in 2), above, is needed to determine the presence orabsence of, e.g., a shorted input, or a scenario where there may not beenough batteries inserted with enough stored energy to effectivelyprovide the requested power output to an electrical load.

Sister charge nodes control the power draw from the batteries keepingthe current drawn within the safe operational parameters of therechargeable batteries. Nodes behave again in parallel, with capabilityto pull power from one another or from another battery array should onebattery or a first array of batteries fail or are compromised inperformance. Communication may be master-less with the other nodes andthe remainder of the intelligent power electronics within the chargedevice. Nodes feed power to the outbound power electronics which mayboost, buck, and invert power to meet the desired output power.

A visual indicator may provide the user with a state of charge of theoverall charge device. Intelligent outbound current monitoring enablesthe charge device to prevent an overcurrent condition on its internalhardware and/or the batteries inserted that supply the power. Thislogic/monitoring tracks at least one of voltage, voltage-sag, current,lead temperatures and may protect the charge device in a fault oroverdraw situation.

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of abattery charging and discharging device 100, and FIG. 1B illustrates afront view of the first embodiment of the battery charging anddischarging device 100 of FIG. 1A.

The battery charging and discharging device 100 includes a weather-proofenclosure 110 having an access opening 112 with a weather-seal 114surrounding the perimeter of the access opening 112. An interiorcompartment 116 may be further defined by the battery charging anddischarging enclosure 100 configured to house an interior batterystorage compartment 118 and an interior battery charging and dischargingequipment storage compartment 119.

The interior compartment 116 may be further configured to receive abattery storage bay 120 in at least a portion of the battery storagecompartment 118, wherein the battery storage bay 120 includes aplurality of battery storage bay support members 121 configured toindividually receive and retain one or a plurality of rechargeablebatteries 150 (later shown in FIGS. 2A-2B).

The battery storage bay 120 may also include a charging state visualindicator 124 for each battery receptacle for the plurality of batteriesthat gives an indication of a charging state for an inserted battery,e.g., a Light Emitting Diode (LED) giving a red color for a low chargestate, an amber color for an immediate charge state, a green color for ahigh charge state, and a blinking color for a completed charge stateindicator. The charging and discharging device may use the indicatorLED's in additional ways to communicate information to the end userregarding, for example, device performance, energy flow, and errorstate(s).

The battery storage bay 120 may also include a charging/dischargingstate indicator 126 for each battery receptacle for the plurality ofbatteries that gives a visual indication, e.g., via an LED, when aninserted battery in a charging mode is being charged or when the batteryin a discharge mode is be being discharged to supply power to aninternal or an external source. The charging/discharging state indicator126 may be incorporated into the charging state visual indicator toprovide a single indicator element while providing another differentcolor, e.g., blue, to indicate a battery in a discharge state asdifferentiated from the battery charge state indication. The batterystorage bay 120 may also include a charge/discharge state switch 128that may be user accessible from the access opening 112 to allow a userto select at least one or a plurality of batteries from any batteriesretained in the battery charging and discharging enclosure 110 to be ineither a charging state or a discharging state.

A moveable cover 130 may be configured to move between an open position132 enabling access to the access opening 112 and the interiorcompartment 116 therethrough, and a closed position 134 providing aweather-proof sealing of the interior compartment 116 by means of themoveable cover 130 fully engaging the weather-seal 114 around theperimeter of the access opening 112.

The battery charging and discharging enclosure 110 may further includean external electrical connection 180 either attached to or protrudingfrom the enclosure 110 configured to be electrically connected to atleast an external power supply 182, (see FIGS. 7 and 10 ), and/or to atleast one external electrical load 184, (see FIGS. 7 and 10 ). Theexternal electrical connection may also include discrete electricalconnections for each of the external power supply 182 and the externalload 184 as external connection from power supply 180A and an externalconnection to load 180B as depicted in FIGS. 7 and 10 .

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view and FIG. 2B illustrates a frontview of the first embodiment of the battery charging and dischargingdevice 100 of FIGS. 1A-1B containing a plurality of batteries 150 loadedwithin the interior compartment 116 of the enclosure 110 of the batterycharging and discharging device 100. A first rechargeable battery 152may have a form factor similar to the remaining plurality ofrechargeable batteries 150. The first rechargeable battery 152 may be atype of battery referred to as a Conformable Wearable Battery (CWB) usedby armed services members for supplying electrical energy toelectrically powered tactical gear and weapon systems. The firstrechargeable battery 152 may also include any other individuallychargeable battery as differentiated from permanently pre-wired arraysof individual rechargeable batteries often referred to as battery packs.

FIG. 3 illustrates an environmental illustration of the battery chargingand discharging device 100 of FIGS. 1A-2B containing the plurality ofbatteries 150 loaded within the interior compartment 116 of theenclosure 110, where the battery charging and discharging device 100 isillustrated as being affixed to an external surface 194 of a moveablevehicle 192 and connected via the external electrical connection 180 ofFIGS. 1A and 2A to at least one of an electrical charging sourceprovided by the moveable vehicle 192 and/or an external electrical loadassociated with the moveable vehicle 192.

The battery charging and discharging enclosure 100 may be maintained onthe external surface 194 of the moveable vehicle 192 by at least oneportion of a releasable attachment device 140 affixed to the externalsurface of the enclosure 110 and a corresponding portion of thereleasable attachment device 140 configured to be secured to theexternal surface 194 of the moveable vehicle 192. The releasableattachment configuration of the battery charging and dischargingenclosure 110 enables the removal of the battery charging anddischarging device 100 from an attached object, whether moveable orstationary, to transport the battery charging and discharging device 100independently to another moveable or stationary device.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment fromthe embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1A-2B of a battery charging anddischarging device 200 containing a plurality of battery charging bays220, 222 within the internal compartment 116 of the enclosure 110 of thebattery charging and discharging device 200. The plurality of batterycharging bays may include a first battery storage bay 220 having aplurality of battery storage bay support members 221 for receiving,retaining and releasing a first battery type, e.g., a “1U” (one-unitsize) type battery form factor, and a second battery storage bay 222having a plurality of battery storage bay support members 223 forreceiving, retaining and releasing a second battery type, e.g., a “2U”(two-unit size) type battery form factor, and/or a third battery type,e.g., a “3U” (three-unit size) type battery form factor.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the alternative embodiment ofFIG. 4 of the battery charging and discharging device 200 containing thefirst battery charging bay 220 and the second battery charging bay 222configured to store at least two different types of rechargeablebatteries within the internal compartment 116 of the enclosure of thebattery charging and discharging device 200. The alternative embodimentof the battery charging and discharging device 200 may be configured tostore a plurality of a first form factor type of batteries, e.g., 152and 154 in the first battery charging bay 220, and a plurality of asecond form factor type of batteries, e.g., 156, and a plurality of athird form factor type of batteries, e.g., 158, in the second batterycharging bay 222. For example, any number of a single type or a pluraltypes of batteries may be stored in either of the first 220 or second222 battery charging bays. The purpose of having discrete batterystorage charging bays may be to accommodate different needs of the usersof the battery charging and discharging device 200. The ability tochange battery charging bays between missions or customers allows thesame enclosure 110 to be used but to be tailored to specificbattery-type recharging needs.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective assembly view of the alternativeembodiment of FIGS. 4-5 of the battery charging and discharging device200 containing the plurality of battery charging bays, 220 and 222,configured to store at least two different types of rechargeablebatteries within the interior battery storage compartment 118 of theinterior compartment 116 of the enclosure 110 of the battery chargingand discharging device 200.

For example, a first rechargeable battery 152 having a first form factortype 153, e.g., 1U, and a second rechargeable battery 154 having thesame first form factor type 153 in addition to a plurality ofrechargeable batteries having the first form factor type 153 areinserted into the battery support members 221 of the battery storage bay220 which may be retained within the interior battery storagecompartment 118 of the enclosure 110.

Furthermore, as an exemplary illustration, another form factorrechargeable battery 156 having a second form factor type 157, e.g., 2U,and a third rechargeable battery 158 having a third form factor type 159in addition to a plurality of rechargeable batteries having the secondand third form factor types are inserted into the battery supportmembers 223 of the battery storage bay 222 which may be retained withinthe interior battery storage compartment 118 of the enclosure 110.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram 700 of the first embodiment ofthe battery charging and discharging enclosure 100 of FIGS. 1A-3 , andthe second embodiment of the charging and discharging enclosure 200 ofFIGS. 4-6 , respectively, included in the enclosure 110 and at least onebattery storage bay module, e.g., reference numbers 120, or 220 and 222.

Enclosure 110 includes an access opening 112 having a moveable cover 130operable to provide a weather-proof seal 114 over the access opening 112and the interior battery storage compartment 118. A battery storage bay120 in the first embodiment, and battery storage bay 220 in the secondembodiment include a plurality of batteries 150 that may include a firstform factor type 153 of battery, two of those first form factor type ofbatteries may include a first rechargeable battery 152 and a secondrechargeable battery 154. In the second embodiment, a second batterystorage bay 222 may include a plurality of batteries 150 that mayinclude a second form factor type 157 of batteries and may furtherinclude a third form factor type 159 of batteries.

Each of the battery storage bays as disclosed in the two aboveembodiments may further include a battery charging state visualindicator 124, a battery charge/discharge state indicator 126 andbattery charge/discharge state switch 128.

The charging device enclosure 110 of the first 100 and second 200embodiments of the battery charging and discharging devices furtherinclude a power management system 160 configured to supply an electricalcharging current to at least a portion of each of the plurality ofbatteries in the battery storage bays 120, 220 and 222, and configuredto discharge stored electrical power from at least a portion of each ofthe plurality of batteries in the battery storage bays 120, 220 and 222.

An external power supply 182 may be electrically connected to thecharging device enclosure 110 via an electrical connection 180, whichmay in the alternative be a discrete power supply electrical connection180A, that supplies power to a power/voltage sensing circuit 162. Thepower/voltage sensing circuit 170 may receive different current andvoltage types, e.g., 110 VAC, 220 VAC, 480 VAC, 12 VDC, 24 VDC, 350 VDCnominal, 650 VDC nominal and 800 VDC nominal, and convert these currentand voltage types via the known use of transformers, voltage rectifiersand/or voltage regulators to a predetermined voltage amount and typerequired to supply a predetermined electrical charging current to anybatteries in the battery storage bays 1210, 220, 222 of the enclosure110.

The power/voltage sensing circuit 162 may then supply the chargingcurrent to the charging supply network/bus 164 that distributes thecharging current to each of a plurality of charge/distribution circuits166 for supplying the charging current via at least one batteryelectrical connection 167 to each of the plurality of batteries 150 inthe enclosure 110 that are selected or switched to be recharged.

A charge monitoring circuit 168 monitors each pair ofcharge/distribution circuit and corresponding battery to determine anybattery failure and/or charge/distribution circuit failure during anybattery charging or discharging state. The charge monitoring circuit 168may be connected to the visual charge indicator 124 of each respectivebattery to visually indicate to an operator the failure or operationalstatus of the respective rechargeable battery and charge/distributioncircuit: e.g., a battery failure, a battery charge status, acharge/distribution circuit state status, and a charge/distributioncircuit failure.

When a particular battery or plurality of batteries has been switchedvia the charge/discharge switch(es) 128 to discharged stored electricalenergy, the charge/discharge control circuit 170 conducts the storedelectrical energy to a distribution power network/bus 172 collecting theenergy from each charge/distribution circuit 166 to a load supplycircuit 174 that may then distribute the discharged stored electricalenergy to at least one of an internal electrical load 176, a coolingsystem 190 configured to cool the power management system 160, and/or amaster power switch 178. The master power switch 178 may be engaged onlywhen it may be safe to switch the stored electrical energy to theelectrical connection 180 or a dedicated load connection 180B to anexternal load 184.

A releasable attachment device 140 may be connected to the enclosure 110to connect the enclosure 110 to one of a movable object 142 or astationary object 144.

FIG. 8A illustrates a front perspective view of a third embodiment of acharging and discharging device 300 including a plurality of batteries150 stored therein similar to the second embodiment as illustrated inFIGS. 4-6 .

The charging and discharging device 300 includes an external structure310 that may or may not be completely enclosed for applications notrequiring weatherproofing of the plurality of batteries 150 and thepower management system 160 from an environment.

The alternative embodiment of the battery charging and dischargingdevice 300 may be configured to store a plurality of a first form factortype of batteries, e.g., 152 and 154 in the first battery charging bay320, and a plurality of a second form factor type of batteries, e.g.,156, and a plurality of a third form factor type of batteries, e.g.,158, in the second battery charging bay 322, similarly illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6 . For example, any number of a single type or a pluraltypes of batteries may be stored in either of the first 320 or second322 battery charging bays.

FIG. 8B illustrates a rear perspective view of the third embodiment ofthe charging and discharging device 300 of FIG. 8A where a rear member321 of the first battery charging bay 320 may be configured to support adiscrete power management system 160 and related components on the backthereof for the plurality of batteries, e.g., 152, 154, in the batterystorage bay 320. Further, a rear member 323 of the second batterycharging bay 322 may be configured to support a corresponding discretepower management system 160 and related components on the back thereoffor the plurality of batteries, e.g., 156, 158, etc., in the batterystorage bay 322. This configuration may be also be applicable for thesecond embodiment of the battery charging and discharging enclosure 200as disclosed in FIGS. 4-6 , wherein each battery storage bay may beinterchangeably independent from any adjacent battery storage bay duringinitial assembly and field servicing operations so as to not disrupt theadjacent battery storage bay.

FIG. 9 illustrates an environmental illustration of the battery chargingand discharging device 300 of FIGS. 8A-8B containing a plurality ofbatteries 150 as affixed to an interior surface 198 of an interiorcompartment 196 a moveable vehicle 192, where the moveable vehicle 192may be similar to the moveable vehicle of FIG. 3 , where FIG. 9illustrates a partial interior view of the moveable vehicle 192 havingits exterior body panels, roof and doors removed to more clearlyillustrate the disposition of the battery charging and dischargingdevice 300.

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic diagram 1000 of the third embodiment ofthe charging and discharging device 300 of FIGS. 8A-9 included a batterystorage compartment 118 and at least one battery storage bay module 320and 322.

The charging and discharging external structure 310 includes the accessopening 112 and the interior battery storage compartment 118 similar tothe first and second embodiments of FIGS. 1A-6 . A battery storage bay320 in the third embodiment includes a plurality of batteries 150 thatmay include a first form factor type 153 of battery, two of those firstform factor type of batteries may include a first rechargeable battery152 and a second rechargeable battery 154. A second battery storage bay322 may include a plurality of batteries 150 that may include a secondform factor type 157 of batteries and may further include a third formfactor type 159 of batteries. The multiple battery storage bayconfiguration of the third embodiment may be similar to the batterystorage bays disclosed in the second embodiment as illustrated in FIGS.4-6 .

Each of the battery storage bays as disclosed in the two aboveembodiments may further include a battery charging state visualindicator 124, a battery charge/discharge state indicator 126 andbattery charge/discharge state switch 128.

The charging and discharging external structure 310 of the thirdembodiment of the battery charging and discharging device 300 mayfurther include at least one power management system 160 configured tosupply an electrical charging current to at least a portion of each ofthe plurality of batteries 150 in the battery storage bays 320 and 322,and configured to discharge stored electrical power from at least aportion of each of the plurality of batteries 150 in the battery storagebays 320 and 322.

An external power supply 182 may be electrically connected to thecharging and discharging device external structure 310 via an electricalconnection 180, which may be a discrete power supply electricalconnection 180A, that supplies power to a power/voltage sensing circuit162. The power/voltage sensing circuit 162 may receive different currentand voltage types, e.g., 110 VAC, 220 VAC, 480 VAC, 12 VDC, 24 VDC, 350VDC nominal, 650 VDC nominal and 800 VDC nominal, and convert thecurrent and voltage types via the known use of transformers, voltagerectifiers and/or voltage regulators to a predetermined voltage amountand type required to supply a predetermined electrical charging currentto any batteries in the battery storage bays 220, 222 in the enclosure310.

The power/voltage sensing circuit 162 may then supply the chargingcurrent to the charging supply network/bus 164 that distributes thecharging current to each of a plurality of charge/distribution circuits166 for supplying the charging current via at least one batteryelectrical connection 167 to each of the plurality of batteries in theexternal structure 310 that are selected or switched to be recharged.

A charge monitoring circuit 168 monitors each pair ofcharge/distribution circuit and corresponding battery to determine anybattery or circuit failure or compromise in performance during a batterycharging or discharging mode. The charge monitoring circuit 168 may beconnected to the visual charge indicator 124 of each respective batteryto visually indicate to an operator the failure or operational status ofthe respective rechargeable battery and charge/distribution circuit:e.g., a battery failure, a battery charge status, a charge/distributioncircuit state status, and a charge/distribution circuit failure.

When a particular battery or plurality of batteries has been switchedvia the charge/discharge switch(es) 128 to discharged stored electricalenergy, the charge/discharge control circuit 170 conducts the storedelectrical energy to a distribution power network/bus 172 collecting thereceived battery energy from each charge/distribution circuit 166 to aload supply circuit 174 that may then distribute the discharged storedelectrical energy to at least one of an internal electrical load 176, acooling system 190 configured to cool the power management system 160,and/or a master power switch 178. The master power switch 178 may beengaged only when a determination is made it is safe to switch thestored electrical energy to the electrical connection 180 or in thealternative a dedicated load connection 180B to an external load 184.

A releasable attachment device 140, (as exemplary illustrated in FIG. 3), may be connected to the external structure 310 configured to beconnected to and removably attached to one of a movable object 142 or astationary object 144.

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic diagram 1100 of the power managementsystem 160 of the charging and discharging device embodiments 100, 200and 300 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-10 .

The power management system 160 may receive electrical power from anexternal power supply 182 via an electrical connection 180, or adedicated electrical connection 180A, to a power/voltage sensing circuit162 configured to convert a voltage amount and power type, (i.e., AC orDC), into a predetermined voltage output and power type required forrecharging the plurality of batteries 150 in the charging anddischarging enclosure 100, 200 or structure 300.

The power/voltage sensing circuit 162 feeds the converted voltage andpower type output to a charging supply network/bus 164 that distributesthe electrical current to respective battery charge/discharge stateswitches 128 associated with each of a plurality of charge/distributioncircuits 166. The charge/discharge state switches 128 are controlled bya charge/discharge control circuit 170 configured to independentlycontrol each of the charge/discharge state switches 128 to eitherdistribute an electrical current to a respective charge/distributioncircuit 166, or route stored electrical energy from a rechargeablebattery via a respective charge/distribution circuit 166 to anelectrical load.

Each charge/distribution circuit 166 includes at least two battery nodeconnections, for example, a first battery node connection 167A, and asecond battery node connection 167B. An alternate embodiment may providefor more the two battery node connections from a singlecharge/distribution circuit 166 where each of the more than two batterynode connections are electrically connected to discrete rechargeablebatteries in the battery storage bay(s), e.g., 120, 220, 222, 320, and322.

Each of the battery node electrical connections, e.g., 167A and 167B, ofeach battery charge and distribution circuit 166 are connected to abattery node switch 169 controlled by a monitoring circuit 168. Themonitoring circuit 168 may be additionally connected to each of thebattery node electrical connections configured to monitor both therechargeable battery 150 and the associated charge/distribution circuit166 to which it may be electrically connected to.

The monitoring circuit 168 monitors the rechargeable battery 150 todetermine at least a charging or discharging state of the battery, acharging status of the battery, e.g., low, medium, high, and completedcharging, and at least one of a battery health, a battery overload or abattery fault state. The monitoring circuit 168 may be further connectedto a battery charging state visual indicator 124 and a batterycharging/discharging state indicator 126 for each rechargeable battery150 to provide a visual indication of a status of the monitoredconditions. In an alternative embodiment, the battery charging statevisual indicator 124 and the battery charging/discharging stateindicator 126 may be consolidated to multipurpose single visualindicator that may be configured to visually differentiate each of themonitored conditions or operational modes to a user, e.g., via amulti-colored LED displaying a plurality of condition indicating colorsin combination with further condition indicating pulsing or flashingcolored LED displays.

The monitoring circuit 168 additionally monitors the charge/distributioncircuit 166 at each of the battery node connections, e.g., 167A and167B, to determine the presence of and/or any discrepancies in theoutput charging current being output to the rechargeable batteries 150,and to determine the presence and quality of any discharge current beingreceived from the rechargeable batteries 150.

The monitoring circuit 168, based on detecting any anomaly in either arechargeable battery 150 or within the charge/distribution circuit 166itself, may cause an associated battery node switch 169 to connect toone or another of the battery node connections, e.g., 167A and 167B,between the charge/distribution circuit 166 and one or another of therechargeable batteries 150. For example, if a fault is detected by themonitoring circuit 168 in charge/distribution circuit 166C such that thecharge/distribution circuit 166C must be taken off-line, the monitoringcircuit 168 may control the corresponding battery node switch 169 toswitch a supplied charging current to rechargeable battery 150B fromcharge/distribution circuit 166B and begin supplying rechargeablebattery 150C via its second battery node connection, similar to batterynode connection 167B for charge/distribution circuit 166C.

In a similar manner, if the monitoring circuit 168 detects that arechargeable battery 150 has completed its charging routine and nolonger needs any charging current, the monitoring circuit 168 may routethe power via the battery nodes switches 169 to supply an availablecharging current via an available charge/distribution circuit 166. Forexample, if rechargeable battery 150Z has completed its charging cycle,then the battery node switch 169 associated with the charge/distributioncircuit 166Z may be switched so that the charging current may besupplied to rechargeable battery 150A. Coincidently with the activationof the battery node switch 169 associated with the charge/distributioncircuit 166Z to accomplish this power redistribution, a plurality ofbattery nodes switches 169 may be simultaneously switched to index therecharging current from respective charge/distribution circuits 166 torechargeable batteries determined by the monitoring circuit 168 to stillbe in a battery recharging cycle/state.

A charge/discharge control circuit 170 may be connected to batterycharge/discharge state switches 128 for each combination ofcharge/distribution circuit 166 and respective rechargeable battery 150.These charge/discharge state switches may be physically accessible to auser for each of the plurality of batteries on the enclosure 110 orexternal structure 310, and may also be controlled by thecharge/discharge control circuit 170 to allow for automatic selectionand activation of each battery charge/discharge state switch 128.

When the battery charge/discharge state switch 128 may be switched tosupply electrical energy from one or more respective rechargeablebatteries 150 through respective charge/distribution circuits 166, theelectrical energy may be supplied to the distribution power network/bus172 and routed to a load supply circuit 174. The load supply circuit174, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10 , may supply the receivedelectrical energy to any internal electrical load 176, e.g., a coolingsystem 190, and/or supply the electrical energy through a master powerswitch 178 via an electrical connection 180, e.g., a discrete externalconnection 180A, to an external load 184. The master power switch 178may be a user operated switch that may only be operable when themonitoring circuit 168 has determined the electrical energy supplied bythe respective rechargeable batteries may be compatible with andsufficient for the electrical demand of the external load.

FIG. 12 illustrates a logic flowchart diagram of a method 1200 ofsupplying a charging current to a plurality of batteries by eitherswitching a battery charge/distribution circuit to supply the chargingto another rechargeable battery of the plurality of batteries, orswitching to another battery charge/distribution circuit to supply thecharging current to a rechargeable battery.

The method starts with supplying, via the battery charging/distributioncircuit, a charging current to a rechargeable battery of a plurality ofrechargeable batteries 1202. The method further includes monitoring therechargeable battery and corresponding battery charge/distributioncircuit while supplying charging current 1204. The monitoring provides acharge monitoring indicator 1206 to a visual indicator device.

The method further includes determining if an input has been received toswitch from a battery recharging mode to a battery discharging mode1208. If no battery discharging mode switch input has been received,then the method determines if a charging fault on either the monitoredrechargeable battery and/or the corresponding batterycharge/distribution circuit has been detected 1210. If no charging faulthas been detected for the monitored rechargeable battery and thecorresponding battery charge/distribution circuit, the method reverts tothe monitoring step at reference number 1204.

If a charging fault has been detected for the monitored rechargeablebattery and/or the corresponding battery charge/distribution circuit,the method provides a fault indicator 1212 at a visual indicator device.If a charging fault has been determined to be in battery, the methodincludes switching the battery charge/distribution circuit to supply thecharging current to another rechargeable battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries 1214. Or in the alternative, if a charging faulthas been determined to be in the battery charge/distribution circuit,the method includes switching to another battery charge/distributioncircuit to supply the charging current to the rechargeable battery ofthe plurality of rechargeable batteries 1214. Thereafter, the methodreverts to the monitoring step at reference number 1204.

If at the method step 1208 it has been determining that an input hasbeen received to switch from a battery recharging mode to a batterydischarging mode, the method provides a discharge indicator 1216 to avisual indicator device. The method further includes delivering storedbattery power to the battery charging/distribution circuit configured tobe delivered to an electrical load 1218.

The method further includes determining if an input has been received toswitch to a charging mode 1220. If no such input to switch to thecharging mode has been received 1220, the method reverts to the methodof delivering stored battery power 1218. If such input to switch to thecharging mode has been received 1220, the method reverts to the methodof supplying a charging current to a rechargeable battery of step 1202.

FIG. 13 illustrates a logic flowchart diagram of a method 1300 ofsupplying stored battery energy current from at least one battery of aplurality of batteries to an electrical load by either switching from afirst battery charge/distribution circuit to another batterycharge/distribution circuit, or switching from a first dischargingrechargeable battery to another discharging rechargeable battery.

The method starts with receiving, via a battery charging/distributioncircuit, a discharge current from a rechargeable battery of a pluralityof rechargeable batteries 1302. The method further includes monitoringthe rechargeable battery and corresponding battery charge/distributioncircuit while receiving the discharge current 1304. The monitoringprovides a discharge monitoring indicator 1306 to a visual indicatordevice.

The method further includes determining if an input has been received toswitch from a battery discharging mode to a battery charging mode 1308.If no battery charging mode switch input has been received, then themethod determines if a discharging fault on either the monitoredrechargeable battery and/or the corresponding batterycharge/distribution circuit has been detected 1310. If no dischargefault has been detected for the monitored rechargeable battery and thecorresponding battery charge/distribution circuit, the method reverts tothe monitoring step at reference number 1304.

If a discharge fault has been detected for the monitored rechargeablebattery and/or the corresponding battery charge/distribution circuit,the method provides a discharge fault indicator 1312 at a visualindicator device. If the discharge fault has been determined to be inthe battery, the method includes switching the batterycharge/distribution circuit to distribute the discharging current fromanother rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries1314. Or in the alternative, if discharging fault has been determined tobe in the battery charge/distribution circuit, the method includesswitching to another battery charge/distribution circuit to receive thedischarging current from the rechargeable battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries 1314. Thereafter, the method reverts to themonitoring step at reference number 1304.

If at the method step 1308, it has been determining that an input hasbeen received to switch from a battery discharging mode to a batterycharging mode, the method provides a discharge indicator 1316 to avisual indicator device. The method further includes delivering acharging current via the battery charging/distribution circuitconfigured to be delivered to the rechargeable battery 1318.

The method further includes determining if an input has been received toswitch to a discharging mode 1320. If no such input to switch to thedischarging mode has been received 1320, the method reverts to themethod of delivering a recharging current to the rechargeable battery1318. If such input to switch to the discharging mode has been received1320, the method reverts to the method of receiving a dischargingcurrent from at least one rechargeable battery of step 1302.

A further embodiment of a battery charging and discharging deviceinclude includes an enclosure defining an interior compartment, wherethe enclosure further includes an access opening configured to allowaccess to the interior compartment, a moveable cover configured to movebetween a closed position covering the access opening and to preventaccess to the interior compartment, and an open position enabling accessto the interior compartment, a battery storage compartment disposedwithin the interior compartment and configured to receive, retain andrelease a plurality of rechargeable batteries, and a releasableattachment device configured to releasably attach the enclosure to oneof a movable object or a stationary fixture.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes a powermanagement system disposed within the interior compartment furtherincluding a plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits eachconfigured to switch between a battery charging mode configured tosupply a charging current at a first time to a first rechargeablebattery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in thebattery storage compartment, and to provide the charging current at asecond time to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, anda battery power supplying mode configured to receive a stored batterypower from at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteriesretained in the battery storage compartment and configured to deliverthe stored battery power to an external electrical load, and a batterycharging monitoring circuit configured to monitor at least one batteryof the plurality of rechargeable batteries under the battery chargingmode and provide a charging state visual indicator of the monitoredbattery charging mode associated with the at least one monitoredbattery, and to switch at least one of the plurality of battery chargeand distribution circuits supplying the charging current between one ofthe first and the second rechargeable batteries.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes theenclosure being configured to environmentally seal the interiorcompartment, and where the moveable cover may be configured to maintainthe environmentally sealed interior compartment when the moveable covermay be in the closed position covering the access opening.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes theenclosure including a structural frame, and at least one removable panelconfigured to be attached to a portion of the structural frame.

The battery charging and discharging device further including the atleast one removeable panel may be further comprised of a replaceableballistic projectile resistant panel.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes the atleast one removeable panel further including a spall liner configured tocover a portion of the interior compartment and configured to impedeballistic projectile fragments.

The battery charging and discharging device further including where thebattery storage compartment further includes a retaining deviceconfigured to retain at least one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries within the battery storage compartment.

The battery charging and discharging device further including theretaining device configured to retain at least two of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries within the battery storage compartment.

The battery charging and discharging device further including theretaining device includes the moveable cover configured to retain thatat least two of the plurality of rechargeable batteries within thebattery storage compartment when the moveable cover in the in closedposition.

The battery charging and discharging device further including at leastone of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits beingfurther configured to provide a charging state visual indicator duringthe battery charging mode for at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment.

The battery charging and discharging device further including each ofthe plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits may beconfigured to switch between the first and second rechargeable batteriesof the plurality of rechargeable batteries to supply the chargingcurrent based on detecting a fault in at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes at leastone of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits may befurther configured to allow a selection between the battery chargingmode and the battery power supplying mode for at least one of theplurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storagecompartment.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes at leastone of the battery charge and distribution circuits may be furtherconfigured to provide a battery mode visual indicator corresponding toone of the battery charge mode and the battery power supply mode.

The battery charging and discharging device further including apower/voltage sensing circuit configured to sense an input power levelfrom an external electrical source on an electrical connection andconvert the input power level to a line charging level configured toprovide the charging current compatible with at least one of theplurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storagecompartment.

The battery charging and discharging device further including anelectrical connection configured to provide an electrically conductivepath between the power management system and at least one of an externalelectrical source or an external electrical load.

The battery charging and discharging device further including theelectrical connection includes a first electrically conductive pathconfigured to receive an input power from the external electricalsource, and a second electrically conductive path configured to outputthe stored rechargeable battery power to the external electrical load.

Another embodiment of a battery charging and discharging device includesan enclosure defining an interior compartment, the enclosure furthercomprising an access opening configured to allow access to the interiorcompartment, a moveable cover configured to move between a closedposition covering the access opening and to prevent access to theinterior compartment, and an open position enabling access to theinterior compartment, a battery storage compartment disposed within theinterior compartment and configured to receive a first battery storagebay module configured to receive, retain and release a first type of aplurality of rechargeable batteries and to receive a second rechargeablebattery storage bay module configured to receive, retain and release asecond type of the plurality of rechargeable batteries different fromthe first type of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and areleasable attachment device configured to releasably attach theenclosure to one of a movable object or a stationary fixture.

The embodiment of a battery charging and discharging device furtherincludes a power management system disposed within the interiorcompartment further including a plurality of battery charge anddistribution circuits each configured to switch between a batterycharging mode configured to supply a charging current at a first time toa first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteriesretained in the battery storage compartment, and to provide the chargingcurrent at a second time to a second rechargeable battery of theplurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storagecompartment, and a battery power supplying mode configured to receive astored rechargeable battery power from at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment andconfigured to deliver the stored rechargeable battery power to anexternal electrical load, and a battery charging monitoring circuitconfigured to monitor at least one battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries under the battery charging mode and provide avisual indicator of the monitored battery charging mode associated withthe at least one battery, and to switch at least one of the plurality ofbattery charge and distribution circuits supplying the charging currentbetween one of the first and the second rechargeable batteries.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes each of theplurality of battery charge and distribution circuits may be configuredto switch between the first and second rechargeable batteries of theplurality of rechargeable batteries to supply the charging current basedon detecting a fault in at least one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes at leastone of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits may befurther configured to allow a selection between the battery chargingmode and the battery power supplying mode for at least one of theplurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storagecompartment.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes at leastone of the battery charge and distribution circuits may be furtherconfigured to provide a battery mode visual indicator corresponding toone of the battery charge mode and the battery power supply mode.

Another embodiment of a battery charging and discharging device includesa battery storage compartment configured to receive, retain and releasea plurality of rechargeable batteries, and a power management systemincluding a plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits eachconfigured to switch between a battery charging mode configured tosupply a charging current at a first time to a first rechargeablebattery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in thebattery storage compartment, and to provide the charging current at asecond time to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, anda battery power supplying mode configured to receive a storedrechargeable battery power from at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment andconfigured to deliver the stored rechargeable battery power to anexternal electrical load, and a battery charging monitoring circuitconfigured to monitor at least one battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries under the battery charging mode and provide avisual indicator of the monitored battery charging mode associated withthe at least one battery, and to switch at least one of the plurality ofbattery charge and distribution circuits supplying the charging currentbetween one of the first and the second rechargeable batteries.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes the batterystorage compartment may be configured to receive a first battery storagebay module configured to receive, retain and release a first type of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, and to receive a second batterystorage bay module configured to receive, retain and release a secondtype of the plurality of rechargeable batteries different from the firsttype of the plurality of rechargeable batteries.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes each of theplurality of battery charge and distribution circuits may be configuredto switch between the first and second rechargeable batteries of theplurality of rechargeable batteries to supply the charging current basedon detecting a fault in at least one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes at leastone of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits may befurther configured to allow a selection between the battery chargingmode and the battery power supplying mode for at least one of theplurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storagecompartment.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes at leastone of the battery charge and distribution circuits may be furtherconfigured to provide a battery mode visual indicator corresponding toone of the battery charge mode and the battery power supply mode.

The battery charging and discharging device further includes areleasable attachment device configured to releasably attach the batterycharging and discharging device to one of a movable object or astationary fixture.

Another embodiment of a method of charging and distributing powerbetween a plurality of rechargeable batteries includes providing abattery charging circuit configured to supply a charging current at afirst time to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries, and to provide the charging current at a secondtime to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries, supplying the charging current at the first time to the firstrechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries,switching, at the second time, the battery charging circuit to supplythe charging current to the second rechargeable battery of the pluralityof rechargeable batteries, providing a battery power supplying circuitconfigured to receive a stored rechargeable battery power from at leastone of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and to deliver thestored rechargeable battery power to an electrical load; and switchingbetween one of supplying the charging current to one of the firstrechargeable battery or the second rechargeable battery of the pluralityof rechargeable batteries, and receiving the stored battery power fromthe one of the first rechargeable battery or the second rechargeablebattery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to enable delivery ofthe received stored battery power to the electrical load.

The method further includes monitoring at least one of the firstrechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery of theplurality of rechargeable batteries while supplying the chargingcurrent, and providing, based on the monitoring, a charging state visualindicator of the at least one of the first rechargeable battery and thesecond rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries.

The method further includes monitoring at least one of the firstrechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery of theplurality of rechargeable batteries while supplying the chargingcurrent, detecting a fault when supplying the charging current to one ofthe first rechargeable battery or the second rechargeable battery of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, wherein the switching the batterycharging circuit to supply the charging current to the other of thefirst rechargeable battery or the second rechargeable battery of theplurality of rechargeable batteries may be responsive to the detectedfault.

The method further includes providing a battery mode visual indicatorconfigured to identify when at least one battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries may be one of being supplied with the chargingcurrent or delivering the stored battery power to the electrical load.

The method further includes providing a power/voltage sensing circuitconfigured to sense an input power level from an external electricalsource on an electrical connection, and to convert the input power levelto a line charging level configured to provide the charging currentcompatible with at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries.

The method further includes providing a first rechargeable batterystorage bay module configured to receive, retain and release a firsttype of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and providing a secondrechargeable battery storage bay module configured to receive, retainand release a second type of the plurality of rechargeable batteriesdifferent from the first type of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries, wherein the first and second rechargeable battery storage baymodules are configured to at least one of connect with the batterycharging circuit and the battery power supplying circuit, or incorporatea respective battery charging circuit and a battery power supplyingcircuit.

Another embodiment of a method of charging and distributing powerbetween a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to a powermanagement circuit includes providing a battery charging circuitconfigured to be connected to at least two of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries, supplying, via the battery charging circuit, acharging current to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries, monitoring the first rechargeable battery whilereceiving the supplied charging current, detecting a charging fault inresponse to monitoring the first rechargeable battery receiving thesupplied charging current, switching, in response to the detectedcharging fault of the first battery, the battery charging circuit tosupply the charging current via to the second rechargeable battery ofthe plurality of rechargeable batteries, providing a battery dischargecircuit configured to receive a stored rechargeable battery power fromat least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, detecting afirst user input to cause the at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries to discharge stored rechargeable battery power toan electrical load, and receiving a second input to cause the at leastone of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to receive, via thebattery charging circuit, the charging current.

The method of charging and distributing power further includes receivingeach individual battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteriesindependently of one another when connecting to the power managementcircuit, retaining each individual battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries when connected to the power management circuit,wherein each individual battery of the retained plurality ofrechargeable batteries are configured to be supplied with the chargingcurrent and are configured to discharge a stored power therefromindependently of one another, and releasing each individual battery ofthe plurality of rechargeable batteries independently of one anotherwhen disconnecting from the power management circuit.

The method of charging and distributing power further includingconnecting the battery charging circuit to more than two of theplurality of rechargeable batteries.

The method of charging and distributing power further includesdistributing the stored rechargeable battery power from the at one ofthe plurality of rechargeable batteries to the electrical load.

The method of charging and distributing power further includingreceiving the stored rechargeable battery power from at least two of theplurality of rechargeable batteries and distributing the storedrechargeable battery power from the at least two of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries to the electrical load.

The method of charging and distributing power further includingdetecting the first user input causes at least two of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries to discharge stored rechargeable battery power tothe electrical load.

The method of charging and distributing power further includingdetecting the first user input includes detecting a plurality number ofuser inputs corresponding to a respective plural number of the pluralityof rechargeable batteries.

The method of charging and distributing power further includingproviding the charging current to one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries at a first time and discharging the stored rechargeable powerfrom another one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries during thesame first time.

Another embodiment of a method of charging and distributing powerbetween a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to a powermanagement circuit includes supplying, via a battery charge anddistribution circuit, a charging current to at least one of a pluralityof rechargeable batteries, and monitoring, via a monitoring circuit, theat least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and the batterycharge and distribution circuit concurrently with supplying the chargingcurrent.

The method further includes at least one of determining, by themonitoring circuit, a charging fault in the at least one of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, and based on determining thecharging fault in the at least one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries, switching the battery charge and distribution circuit tosupply the charging current to another one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries, and determining, by the monitoring circuit, acharging fault in the battery charge and distribution circuit, and basedon determining the charging fault in the battery charge and distributioncircuit, switching to another battery charge and distribution circuit tosupply the charging current to the at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries.

The method of charging and distributing power further includes providinga charge monitoring indicator to an indication device, the chargemonitoring indicator configured to represent at least one of a state ofcharge indication and a fault indication of one of the at least one ofthe plurality of rechargeable batteries and the battery charge anddistribution circuit.

The method of charging and distributing power further includesdetermining if an input has been received configured to stop thesupplying of charging current to the at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries and to switch to receiving a distribution currentfrom the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries.

Another embodiment of a method of charging and distributing powerbetween a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to a powermanagement circuit includes receiving, via a battery charge anddistribution circuit, a discharge current from at least one of aplurality of rechargeable batteries, and monitoring, via a monitoringcircuit, the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries andthe battery charge and distribution circuit concurrently receiving thedischarge current. and

The method of charging and distributing power further includes at leastone of determining, by the monitoring circuit, a discharge fault in theat least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and based ondetermining the discharge fault in the at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries, switching the battery charge and distributioncircuit to receive another discharge current from another of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, and determining, by the monitoringcircuit, a discharge fault in the battery charge and distributioncircuit, and based on determining the discharge fault in the batterycharge and distribution circuit, switching to another battery charge anddistribution circuit to receive the discharge current from the at leastone of the plurality of rechargeable batteries.

The method of charging and distributing power further includes providinga discharge monitoring indicator to an indication device, the dischargemonitoring indicator configured to represent at least one of a state ofdischarge indication and a discharge fault indication of one of the atleast one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and the batterycharge and distribution circuit.

The method of charging and distributing power further includesdetermining if an input has been received configured to stop thesupplying of discharging current from the at least one of the pluralityof rechargeable batteries and to switch to providing a charging currentto the at least one of the plurality of batteries.

The embodiments disclosed herein provide a portable charging anddischarge battery device configured to charge CWB and non-CWBrechargeable batteries in the field using a common power supply in adense, or high battery count per charging device, charging structurethat may be weather-proof and securely and removably attached to astationary or movable object.

Additionally, the embodiments disclosed herein provide for portablein-the-field power that may be supplied by the portable charging anddischarge battery device when one or more batteries retained in thedevice are switched to deliver their corresponding battery power, andmay in consonant with battery power from other retained batteries, beconfigured to deliver the consolidated battery power to an internal oran external electrical load.

Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed herein provide a rechargeablebattery charging device to have modular battery storage compartments orbays pre-configured to receive, retain and release any number ofrechargeable batteries in any number of predetermined form factors orsizes.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific arrangements and configurations.However, the illustrative examples provided herein are not intended tobe exhaustive or to limit embodiments of the disclosed subject matter tothe precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations arepossible in view of the disclosure provided herein. The embodiments andarrangements were chosen and described in order to explain theprinciples of embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and theirpractical applications. Various modifications may be used withoutdeparting from the scope or content of the disclosure and claimspresented herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of charging and distributing powerbetween a plurality of rechargeable batteries, the method comprising:providing a battery charging circuit configured to supply a chargingcurrent at a first time to a first rechargeable battery of the pluralityof rechargeable batteries, and to provide the charging current at asecond time to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries; supplying the charging current at the first timeto the first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries; switching, at the second time, the battery charging circuitto supply the charging current to the second rechargeable battery of theplurality of rechargeable batteries; providing a battery power supplyingcircuit configured to receive a stored rechargeable battery power fromat least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and to deliverthe stored rechargeable battery power to an electrical load; andswitching between one of supplying the charging current to one of thefirst rechargeable battery or the second rechargeable battery of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, and receiving the stored batterypower from the one of the first rechargeable battery or the secondrechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries toenable delivery of the received stored battery power to the electricalload.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring at leastone of the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeablebattery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries while supplying thecharging current; and providing, based on the monitoring, a chargingstate visual indicator of the at least one of the first rechargeablebattery and the second rechargeable battery of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:monitoring at least one of the first rechargeable battery and the secondrechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries whilesupplying the charging current; detecting a fault when supplying thecharging current to one of the first rechargeable battery or the secondrechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries; whereinthe switching the battery charging circuit to supply the chargingcurrent to the other of the first rechargeable battery or the secondrechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries isresponsive to the detected fault.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: providing a battery mode visual indicator configured toidentify when at least one battery of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries is one of being supplied with the charging current ordelivering the stored battery power to the electrical load.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: providing a power/voltage sensingcircuit configured to sense an input power level from an externalelectrical source on an electrical connection, and to convert the inputpower level to a line charging level configured to provide the chargingcurrent compatible with at least one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing afirst rechargeable battery storage bay module configured to receive,retain and release a first type of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries, and providing a second rechargeable battery storage baymodule configured to receive, retain and release a second type of theplurality of rechargeable batteries different from the first type of theplurality of rechargeable batteries, wherein the first and secondrechargeable battery storage bay modules are configured to at least oneof connect with the battery charging circuit and the battery powersupplying circuit, or incorporate a respective battery charging circuitand a battery power supplying circuit.
 7. A method of charging anddistributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteriesconnected to a power management circuit, the method comprising:providing a battery charging circuit configured to be connected to atleast two of the plurality of rechargeable batteries; supplying, via thebattery charging circuit, a charging current to a first rechargeablebattery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries; monitoring the firstrechargeable battery while receiving the supplied charging current;detecting a charging fault in response to monitoring the firstrechargeable battery receiving the supplied charging current; switching,in response to the detected charging fault of the first battery, thebattery charging circuit to supply the charging current via to thesecond rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries;providing a battery discharge circuit configured to receive a storedrechargeable battery power from at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries; detecting a first user input to cause the atleast one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to discharge storedrechargeable battery power to an electrical load; and receiving a secondinput to cause the at least one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries to receive, via the battery charging circuit, the chargingcurrent.
 8. The method of charging and distributing power of claim 7,further comprising: receiving each individual battery of the pluralityof rechargeable batteries independently of one another when connectingto the power management circuit; retaining each individual battery ofthe plurality of rechargeable batteries when connected to the powermanagement circuit, wherein each individual battery of the retainedplurality of rechargeable batteries are configured to be supplied withthe charging current and are configured to discharge a stored powertherefrom independently of one another; and releasing each individualbattery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries independently of oneanother when disconnecting from the power management circuit.
 9. Themethod of charging and distributing power of claim 7, furthercomprising: connecting the battery charging circuit to more than two ofthe plurality of rechargeable batteries.
 10. The method of charging anddistributing power of claim 7, further comprising: distributing thestored rechargeable battery power from the at one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries to the electrical load.
 11. The method ofcharging and distributing power of claim 7, further comprising:receiving the stored rechargeable battery power from at least two of theplurality of rechargeable batteries; and distributing the storedrechargeable battery power from the at least two of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries to the electrical load.
 12. The method ofcharging and distributing power of claim 7, wherein detecting the firstuser input causes at least two of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries to discharge stored rechargeable battery power to theelectrical load.
 13. The method of charging and distributing power ofclaim 7, wherein detecting the first user input includes detecting aplurality number of user inputs corresponding to a respective pluralnumber of the plurality of rechargeable batteries.
 14. The method ofcharging and distributing power of claim 7, further comprising:providing the charging current to one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries at a first time; and discharging the stored rechargeable powerfrom another one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries during thesame first time.
 15. A method of charging and distributing power betweena plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to a power managementcircuit, the method comprising: supplying, via a battery charge anddistribution circuit, a charging current to at least one of a pluralityof rechargeable batteries; monitoring, via a monitoring circuit, the atleast one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and the batterycharge and distribution circuit concurrently with supplying the chargingcurrent; and at least one of determining, by the monitoring circuit, acharging fault in the at least one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries, and based on determining the charging fault in the at leastone of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, switching the batterycharge and distribution circuit to supply the charging current toanother one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and determining,by the monitoring circuit, a charging fault in the battery charge anddistribution circuit, and based on determining the charging fault in thebattery charge and distribution circuit, switching to another batterycharge and distribution circuit to supply the charging current to the atleast one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries.
 16. The method ofcharging and distributing power of claim 15, further comprisingproviding a charge monitoring indicator to an indication device, thecharge monitoring indicator configured to represent at least one of astate of charge indication and a fault indication of one of the at leastone of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and the battery chargeand distribution circuit.
 17. The method of charging and distributingpower of claim 15, further comprising determining if an input has beenreceived configured to stop the supplying of charging current to the atleast one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and to switch toreceiving a distribution current from the at least one of the pluralityof rechargeable batteries.
 18. A method of charging and distributingpower between a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to a powermanagement circuit, the method comprising: receiving, via a batterycharge and distribution circuit, a discharge current from at least oneof a plurality of rechargeable batteries; monitoring, via a monitoringcircuit, the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries andthe battery charge and distribution circuit concurrently receiving thedischarge current; and at least one of determining, by the monitoringcircuit, a discharge fault in the at least one of the plurality ofrechargeable batteries, and based on determining the discharge fault inthe at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, switchingthe battery charge and distribution circuit to receive another dischargecurrent from another of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, anddetermining, by the monitoring circuit, a discharge fault in the batterycharge and distribution circuit, and based on determining the dischargefault in the battery charge and distribution circuit, switching toanother battery charge and distribution circuit to receive the dischargecurrent from the at least one of the plurality of rechargeablebatteries.
 19. The method of charging and distributing power of claim18, further comprising providing a discharge monitoring indicator to anindication device, the discharge monitoring indicator configured torepresent at least one of a state of discharge indication and adischarge fault indication of one of the at least one of the pluralityof rechargeable batteries and the battery charge and distributioncircuit.
 20. The method of charging and distributing power of claim 18,further comprising determining if an input has been received configuredto stop the supplying of discharging current from the at least one ofthe plurality of rechargeable batteries and to switch to providing acharging current to the at least one of the plurality of batteries.